Mooseheads defenceman Hannay opts to turn pro

Halifax Mooseheads defenceman Sawyer Hannay has decided to make the jump to pro hockey instead of returning to the QMJHL for one more season.

The 20-year-old signed a contract with Salzburg Red Bull of the Austrian Hockey League and will leave for Europe on Sunday.

The Vancouver Canucks picked Hannay in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL draft but forfeited his rights after not signing him to a contract prior to the June 1 deadline. But it’s believed the Canucks are still interested in him as a player and will track his development in Salzburg.

“I’m excited,” Hannay said. “I’ve only heard good things about the team in Salzburg. It’s a world-class organization. They’ve got a great coach and everything so far has been really professional. Vancouver likes the idea so that’s a part of it too. This is a great opportunity for me to improve as a player.”

Hannay spent three seasons with the Mooseheads, collecting 15 points and 415 penalty minutes in 159 games. With Konrad Abeltshauser and Stefan Fournier expected to fill two of the three overage openings with the Mooseheads this season, Hannay would have had to beat out Steve Gillard and Brad Cuzner for the final spot.

“The Mooseheads have always been good to me and continue to be good to me,” Hannay said. “I only have great things to say about the organization. I love Halifax and the fans were great to me.

“But the reality is hockey’s a business too and it’s hard for certain players to fit sometimes, especially 20-year-olds in junior hockey. There might still have been a place on the team for me, but most of all this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I really feel like this is the best place for me to go to develop as a player.”

The Canucks also arranged for former Mooseheads winger Alex Grenier to sign with Salzburg recently. Former NHL coach Pierre Page runs Red Bull.